1/16 RC M-113A1 ACAV - Converting the Takom/Andy's HHQ kit to RC

[lmcq11]

The instrument panel attached to the roof should also only be installed after painting and decals are put on.

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Putting on the decals can be difficult depending on the quality and how they are cut. These are microscopic. I have never put on decals so small so that will be interesting. The panel also needs some wiring in the back for each gauge and switch.

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The inside of the model is left mostly empty in preparation for painting. Shelf, seats and everything that cannot be easily painted with Interior green must be left out at this time. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to paint under the shelfs, seats and to put on the micro decals.

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Even the driver's right wall has a lot of stuff going on. It is better to leave the driver's seat out of the picture until the end. There is no rush to install these.

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The radio shelf also needs to be installed later once the radio is fully painted and all the required wires have been figured out.

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I replaced the plastic handle by brass wire on the M-60 mount. They break too easily.

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This is all the stuff kept separate in preparation for painting.

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Shelf, tools, comm boxes, etc

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Extinguishers, infra red sight.

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[lmcq11]

This is an AN/VRC 47 radio consisting of RT-524 receiver-transmitter (left) and R-442 receiver (middle). The box on the left was included in the interior part sprue but there are no mention of it in the instructions, and i have not found any information as to what it could be. It does not seems to be part of the radio. If someone knows what it is, please let us know.

I have not installed the side handles yet as they might be in the way of installing the decals, and are in a different color.

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Looks like the radio should be green with silver handles, from wear or otherwise.

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Creating the radio will require some study, proper tools and mental preparation.

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I am glad i have removed all the molded on wires. Painting these would have been difficult and not sure it would have looked good.

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This is what i will be using to recreate all the internal wires. I have another set with a smaller caliber. As these are already black and will be installed after painting, i will not need to paint most wires.

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I also had to study the Jason Studio accessory set. It comes with its own jerrycans and straps, and ammo. The kit's jerrycans are therefore discarded.

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continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

This is how the M2 ammo box should look like when ready to fire. The Jason Studio provides an open ammo box with links.

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This is a big weakness of the Takom model. They have provided a closed ammo box, and molded with the mount. This is absolutely disappointing for a model issued in 2024. It would have been molded separately.

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We have to carve the ammo box out of the mount...

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Until i have the Jason ammo box in my hand and can see how to integrate it with the mount, i will wait to do any more carving.

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The Jason kit comes with 3D printed ammo belt links. I have never seen these before. I am guessing they could potentially be used to recreate an ammo belt

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And fit the 3D ammo links with these little brass jewels. We'll see. Otherwise, i will have to create the ammo belt links with the Aber PE parts... difficult.

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They might be too thick or fragile, we'll see.

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The Takom periscope came in two parts. I would have preferred that they were molded in a single part. The glue created issues on the visors.

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The central seat module will eventually only be glued to the floor, after painting.

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The tow cable.

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continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

The Browning M2 can be separated from the mount, which will make painting easier.

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This is the dreaded decal sheet for all the accessories, interior and other areas.

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Even the switch boxes have decals for them. This is great that Takom provided the opportunity to super detail them. I am not sure yet about the % of success we can get with these but it is worth a try, with tools, magnifier, patience, mental conditioning and some encouragements.

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For example, check out where number 31 should be applied as per previous picture. It looks like the decals are well formed so applying these might actually be possible, for those who can see them of course... I know none of this stuff is actually essential so i will do it for the fun of it.

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The painting instructions are incomplete. There are no legend for paint colors and the whole thing is suspicious. This is more a decal application instruction sheet. Takom is providing a view as to how they should be painted, but with no technical details, other than "Olive Drab". We know there are a lot of Olive drabs...

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It also looks wrong. For example, according to these painting instructions, the radio should be black or something close to it, but we can see in a previous post that it should be in a specific green color.

"Duck Egg Green" is an uncommon name... usually called "Interior green" as provided by AK, MIG and others. There seems to be a lot of variations of that color for navy, airplanes and AFV. Got to be careful.

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This is it for now. I am waiting for a lot of stuff in the mail, accessories and paint for the model and figures. So, completing this build will take a while and as you can see, it will be a lot of work and take time.

Regards, Louis

[HERMAN BIX]

There is a hell of a lot going on with this one Mr Mcq11.
Seems like you are 11 steps & thoughts ahead of each step !!

[lmcq11]

There is a hell of a lot going on with this one Mr Mcq11.
Seems like you are 11 steps & thoughts ahead of each step !!

Just having fun with it. The accessories and figures end up costing twice as much as the M-113 kit. The kit, and RC conversion itself, were quite cheap.

[HERMAN BIX]

They always find a way not to miss ya !!

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"Just having fun with it." Gimme a break! That's probably what Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni said, too. Louis, you are astounding!

"Duck Egg Green" is certainly a new one on me. (Maybe there are quacks in the model paint world.) "Interior Green" is, as you note, what it's usually called. I also know that "Zinc Chromate" is similar, but usually darker. And, as you point out, these are about as easy to identify and replicate accurately as "Olive Drab."

[lmcq11]

Doc,

To my big surprise, there is actually a recognized Duck Egg Green color, but it has variations and its giving me problems.

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Vallejo and some others produce it.

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I though i was smart in the past by purchasing both Mig Ammo and AK interactive AFV Vietnam color sets.

Mig Ammo comes with Mig-082 US APC Interior Green

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This older AK Interactive Vietnam set comes with AK4012 APC interior light green

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Comparing the two; AK4012 on the left, Mig Ammo 082 on the right. These are totally different interior green colors. Mig Ammo is a lot more green and darker, AK more light beige. It seems to me the right color is somewhere in the middle. I don't want the interior to be too dark.

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I have this set on order, the latest Ak Interactive Vietnam colors that comes with AK11345 APC Interior light green. I'll compare it with the others when i get it.

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[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you for all the information! When the time comes for my M60, the information on the Ammo/AK/Vallejo paints will be useful. Then, too, as the photo shows, if there is variation in the color of US APCs, that's because the ducks keep supplying different colors.